A Perfect Pairing

The Challenge

Pochin Construction were awarded the multimillion pound contract to build a new iconic community health centre on the former Frodsham High School Site.

Designed by AFL Architects, in careful consultation with the NHS trust and the GP surgeries, the new building was to showcase traditional materials such as Locharbriggs Permain red sandstone and natural granite paving in a striking contemporary design.

To ensure that the project remained within budget, Pochin Construction undertook an extensive value engineering exercise and identified that savings could be made within the hard landscaping package without compromising on quality or the required highly aesthetic appearance.

Accordingly, AFL Architects approached AG to provide a value engineered alternative to a flame finished natural granite stone specified for the hard landscaping areas. A subtle theme of genetic fingerprinting was also to be highlighted within the design, using opposing colours of black and white. The selected paving material needed to be available in highly contrasting dark and light shades with the ability to be engraved with representations of base pair DNA coding.

The Solution

AG proposed their textured finish TerraPave® natural aggregate flags in Florento (Marlowe Special) and Rimini as a high quality cost effective alternative to natural flame finished granite.

TerraPave® flags are hydraulically pressed concrete flags manufactured with a base course of conventional durable concrete and a thick surface layer of reconstituted granite and other natural aggregates. Their exceptional appearance is achieved by using state-of-the-art manufacturing and finishing equipment with only the natural aggregates themselves providing the surface colour and not concrete dyes.

The top course of reconstituted granite was sufficiently thick to allow engraving of the flags with the base pair DNA coding illustrations. Prior to supplying the paving AG undertook several engraving trials of different colours, finishes and mixes to allow the AFL and client design team to select the combination that best met their design concept. During these trials it was found that ground finished TerraPave® flags were the most appropriate for the engraving in a Florento colour.

“AG’s TerraPave® flags provide a striking entrance to the building and satisfied our design brief completely. We have not compromised on quality although the paving is a value engineered alternative to our original specification. AG were extremely helpful in undertaking trials and providing samples which enabled us to make the right choices with respect to colours and finishes. We would certainly consider specifying TerraPave® on future schemes.”

Antony Swann | AFL’s Project Architect.

“It is a spectacular building and we are excited by the new opportunities it gives us.”

Dr Steven Pomfret | Knoll GP surgery.